Before George Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, and man named Robert Jordan gave the world the first of the modern super-bloated epic fantasy, The Wheel of Time. Jordan fell in to a trap that Martin has so far avoided. He got bogged down in detail and sideplots to the extent that nothing seemed to happen in volumes 7-10. For the sake of time reference, I started reading these in 1992 or so, around when volume 4 was released.

So 11 came out a couple of years ago, and was pretty good, then I heard something about a blood disease. Didn't pay any attention until today, when I found out Jordan actually has a terminal illness, and with treatment has a median life expectancy of 4 years. So he's wrapping everything up in one last book (to my mind, two would be better, but I can be understanding in this sad situation). I hope he does finish, and I'm sure the end will live up the beginning. Whatever I might think about 7-10, 1-6 were absolutely phenomenal, and he will always be one of my favorite fantasy writers. I hope, of course, that he beats the odds and lives long enough to not only finish this series, but perhaps write a standalone story or two after. He seems the type who would want to write to his dying day, and I will read whatever it is.

Man, I also hope George R. R. Martin finishes his books without such pressure as terminal illness.